Nacho Party

Whether you're trying to throw a party together in a hurry, or have plenty of time for prep, a nacho bar offers flexibility for you and your guests. Choose the options that fit your schedule.  This menu is gluten-free and includes vegetarian and meat options. 

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we'll earn a commission if you click through and a make a purchase.

Nacho Bar Components

• Corn Tortilla Chips

• Cheeses

  • White Queso Dip

  • Shredded Queso Chihuahua (or Monterey Jack)

• Protein Options

  • Creamy Black Beans

  • Ground Beef Taco Filling

  • Smoked Pulled Pork

• The Add-Ons

  • Guacamole

  • Lime Sour Cream (recipe below)

  • Pico de Gallo

  • Sliced Black Olives

  • Shredded Lettuce

  • Pickled Jalapeños

  • Sliced Green Onions

  • Hot Sauce (such as Cholula or other Picante-Style Sauce)

  • Lime wedges

• Margaritas (single or batched) or Palomas

Recommended Equipment

• 1 slow cooker or chafing dish per protein option

• 1 fondue pot with gel burner for queso dip (have at least two gel burners on hand)

  • We have this fondue set and absolutely love it. You could also use another small slow cooker.

• 1 large bowl for tortilla chips

• Serving utensils for cheese and add-ons

  • Standard teaspoons for shredded cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo

  • Smaller spoons (such as a small mustard spoon like this) for olives, pickled jalapeños, sliced green onion

  • Small tongs for lettuce

  • Small ladle for queso dip

• Serving utensils for chips and protein options

  • Tongs for chips and smoked pulled pork

  • Slotted serving spoon for black beans and taco filling

• Plates, napkins, utensils (forks), and cups

• Beverage dispenser

Ingredients for a party of 10

• 2-3 12 oz. bags corn tortilla chips

  • We like Garden of Eatin' blue or yellow corn tortilla chips, or Trader Joe's Quinoa & Black Bean Infused Tortilla Chips

• Double batch of White Queso Dip

• 1 lb. shredded Queso Chihauhau or Monterey Jack

• Protein Options

  • Single batch Creamy Black Beans

  • Ground Beef Taco Filling

    • 2 medium white onions, diced

    • 3 lbs. ground beef (80/20 preferred)

    • 3 packets taco seasoning (we enjoy La Tiara taco seasoning, but feel free to use a homemade taco seasoning instead)

    • Vegetable oil

  • 3 lbs. pulled pork from a single batch of Smoked Pulled Pork (OR buy 3 lbs. smoked pulled pork from your favorite local BBQ joint, just skip the sauce)

• Add-Ons

  • 2 cups guacamole (homemade or store bought, such as Wholly Guacamole Homestyle)

  • 2 cups Lime Sour Cream

  • 2 cups pico de gallo (homemade or store bought)

  • 1 3.8 oz. can sliced black olives (such as Lindsay Naturals California Black Olives - Sliced)

  • 3 cups shredded lettuce (such as Iceberg or Romaine)

  • 1 cup pickled jalapeños (homemade or store bought)

  • 2 bunches green onions, sliced

  • At least 1 bottle hot sauce (such as Cholula or other Picante-Style Sauce)

  • 2-4 limes, cut into wedges

• Ice

• Cocktail ingredients (see individual recipes and scale as needed) or beer/wine

  • I usually estimate 1 drink per person per hour (adjust appropriately if your guest list is full of heavy or light/non-drinkers)

  • For a party like this though, we'd probably just make a single recipe of the Margarita (Batched) (about 13 servings) and then provide beer/wine (or ask guests to bring beer/wine to share).

• Non-alcoholic beverages. Options include at least water, sparkling water, flavored water, iced tea, lemonade, or soda.

The Plan

This is timeline is just one recommendation.  Clearly, choose a schedule that works best for you and the menu components that you've selected.  If you're using pulled pork from a local BBQ joint or only making the Ground Beef Taco Filling, you could easily do most of this prep the morning of the party.

Two days before the party

1. Tidy up the house and make sure the bathrooms are well-stocked.

2. Find and set aside serving pieces and utensils.

3. Pull out plates, flatware, cups/glasses, and napkins.

4. Pull out any decor items (tablecloths, decorations, etc.)

5. Pull out any extra seating and tables (or borrow from a friend/family member).

6. Plan food, drink, and seating layout.

7. Smoked Pork Shoulder: Brine the pork shoulder.

8. Smoked Pork Shoulder: Make the paprika-ancho rub (if not already done).

One day before the party

1. Smoked Pork Shoulder: Smoke the pork shoulder, shred, and stash in fridge.

2. White Queso Dip: Cut up all cheese for the queso dip and store in a zip-top bag or air-tight container.

3. Shred Queso Chihauhau or Monterey Jack, if needed, and store in a zip-top bag or air-tight container.

4. Hang up any decorations.

5. Ground beef taco filling:

   1. Dice the onion.

   2. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until translucent (5-10 minutes).

   3. Add the ground beef and brown.

   4. Add the taco seasoning and about 1/4 cup water. Stir well to combine and allow the mixture to gently simmer for 5 minutes.

   5. Place the cooked taco filling into an air-tight container and stash in the fridge.

6. Make the pico de gallo, if you're making that from scratch.

7. Creamy Black Beans: Make the Creamy Black Beans. Transfer to an air-tight container and stash in fridge.

8. Margarita (single or batched):

   1. Juice limes and strain the juice into a squeeze bottle or jar.

   2. Make the agave syrup.

   3. Cut lime wedges and place in an air-tight container in fridge.

9. Paloma:

   1. Juice limes and strain the juice into a squeeze bottle or jar.

   2. Cut grapefruit wedges and place in an air-tight container in fridge.

10. If serving any beverages from a cooler or beverage bin, place the cans/bottles in the fridge if there is space. If you don't have room in the fridge, place the cans/bottles in the cooler or bin (no need to fill with ice quite yet).

11. Set up the bar.

    1. Ice bucket & scoop/tongs

    2. Kitchen Towel (best to have one close to wipe up any spills)

    3. Spirits (tequila, triple sec, etc.)

    4. If guests are making their own margarita or paloma:

       1. 2 oz. OXO measuring cups

       2. Shaker with strainer

       3. Prepare handwritten or printed instructions for making the cocktail.

12. Make sure to run the dishwasher before bed.

Day of party

In the morning:

1. Do any last minute tidying that's needed and empty dishwasher.

2. Arrange the tables and chairs as needed. Cover with tablecloths, if applicable.

3. Set up plates, cups, utensils, napkins.

4. Thinly slice the green onion. Place in serving bowl, cover, and set in fridge.

5. Shred/slice lettuce into thin strips, if needed. Place in serving bowl, cover, and set in fridge.

6. Chop up any vegetables or herbs needed for guacamole (if making from scratch).

7. Place the following items in serving bowls. Cover and place in fridge.

   1. Shredded cheese

   2. Pico de Gallo

   3. Sliced Black Olives

   4. Shredded Lettuce

   5. Pickled Jalapeños

   6. Sliced Green Onions

   7. Lime wedges

8. Lime Sour Cream: Add zest of one lime and two tablespoons lime juice to 1 cup of sour cream. Stir to combine and place in a serving bowl. Cover and place in fridge.

9. If you're making the Margarita (Batched), batch it up now and place in the fridge.

10. Tidy up the kitchen and wash any dishes.

11. If you had cans/bottles in the fridge and are using a cooler, transfer those into the cooler now.

12. Go pick up ice, or send someone to pick up ice.

    1. Place at least one bag in the freezer for drinks.

    2. If you're using a cooler for cans/bottles, top those off with ice to chill the drinks.

    3. If you're using a beverage bin for cans/bottles, place bags of ice in a cooler or freezer until closer to party time.

Two hours before party time:

1. If you're using either the Smoked Pulled Pork and Creamy Black Beans, add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the bottom of a slow cooker set to low. You can skip the oil for the Ground Beef Taco Filling. Add protein options to slow cookers and place on low. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating.

2. Fill beverage dispenser with water. It may seem silly to designate an entire beverage dispenser for water, but we've found that guests drink way more water when it's sitting out in their faces. When serving any alcoholic beverages, make sure your guests have plenty of non-alcoholic options and water to balance things out.

3. If you're using a beverage bin, top those off with ice now to chill the drinks.

One hour before party time:

1. If you're making the guacamole from scratch, prepare it now and place in serving bowl. Squeeze lime juice over the top, and cover with plastic wrap on the surface of the guacamole. Place in fridge.

30 minutes before guests are due to arrive:

1. Make the White Queso Dip and place in a fondue pot and light the gel burner, or place in a slow cooker set to warm. Place the small ladle on a small plate next to the pot or cooker. Stir occasionally.

10 minutes before guests are due to arrive:

1. Remove all add-on bowls and hot sauce from the fridge and set out for serving (if you're using a store-bought guacamole, transfer it to a serving bowl and set out as well).

2. Fill ice bucket and set out cocktail ingredients from fridge.

3. Fill a large bowl with chips.

4. Double check that all food items have a serving utensil.

5. Switch slow cookers to a warm setting.

6. Turn on some music.